Large explosion hits police headquarters in Cairo

January 24, 2014 - 11:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - A large explosion hit the Egyptian police headquarters in downtown Cairo early on Friday, Jan 24, killing at least two people, the country's state television said, according to the Associated Press.

The blast, which could be heard in several parts of the city, sent smoke rising above the Egyptian capital as a large number of ambulances rushed to the scene, the television said.

Health ministry spokesman Mohammed Fathallah told Egypt's private CBC network that at least two people were killed and 40 were wounded.

The explosion came on the eve of the anniversary of the start of the 2011 uprising that toppled Egypt's longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.

A Muslim Brotherhood-led coalition plans protests after Friday prayers across the country as part of their near-daily demonstrations against the July overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and the recent vote on the country's rewritten constitution.

The state TV aired footage showing several wrecked and charred floors of the high-rise security building with the pavement outside littered with shuttered glass, pieces of bricks and rocks.

The report said gunfire resounded from the area immediately after the blast, but there were no other details.